Spike puller



Aug. 19, 1941. SPRAGUE 2,253,100

SPIKE FULLER Filed June 17, 1940 Inventor aim/f, 7a Z66,

- Aun'maus Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPIKEPULLER Glenn W. Sprague, Fort Recovery, Ohio Application June 17, 1940,Serial No. 341,057

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in spikepullers and more particularly to a puller for pulling the elastic typeof spike now extensively used on railroads.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a puller forpulling elastic spikes without curving or bending the same during theoperation of pulling.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tool of thecharacter stated which will be of simple construction, yetpositiveacting in operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparentto the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing- Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the toolapplied to a spike.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the tool applied to a spike.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through the tool removedfrom a spike.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 represents an elastic spike pulled from a tie6. This type of spike has the curved head I which, of course, isdisposed over the base of a track rail leaving sufficient space underthe'intermedlate portion of the same to permit insertion of a tool whenextraction of the spike is desired.

In carrying out the present invention, a substantially disk-shaped head8 is provided with an arcuately disposed shank 9 which cooperates with apin l0 laterally disposed from the obliquely disposed foot II at thelower end of the elongated hand bar l2. The shank 9 in about a halfportion of the disk-shaped head 8 is reduced and to this reduced portionthe hand bar I2 is pivotally secured at its heel portion by a suitablepivot member I 3.

In pulling a spike, the pin I0 is inserted under the head 1 of the spikeand the shank 9 disposed over the curved head as shown in Figure 1. Bynow pushing downwardly on the hand bar I2, the head 8 will rockoutwardly as the pin l0 has a tendency to ride in a vertical direction,pulling the spike straight upwardly and thus preventing any distortionof the spike which practically always occurs now with present daypulling apparatus.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A flexible spike puller comprising an elongated hand bar provided with afoot, a rounded head member provided with a thickness reduced arouateshank extending outwardly therefrom and to which the hand bar at itsheel portion is pivotally secured, said foot having a laterally disposedpin projecting under the shank, said foot being obliquely disposed withrespect to the bar, said shank being reduced to define a shoulderagainst which the hand bar can abut.

GLENN W. SPRAGUE.

